We’re Back!

Greetings, friends! We are happy to announce that we are BACK! After taking a month-ish leave from here and our social media accounts, we have returned and are refreshed…ready for anew!

If you’ve been following this here little Donkumentary, then you’ll remember that I took leave to focus on a “big project” and, indeed, that project has been worked on and is finally nearing completion. So here’s what it is:

It starts with a tiny seed that’s been quivering and twisting in my mind since, well, as far back as I can really remember. For as long as my brain has started building upon a memorable and conscious foundation, I’ve loved poetry. It began, I believe, with Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” a collection of poems and illustrations that my folks and later, grade school teachers would read to us when we were young. That collection taught us to see the world in wacky, weird ways—to smell the wind and to wonder about the color of things and what it all means. Then there was Dr. Seuss who, when the right words didn’t quite exist to illustrate his visions, simply made up his own and taught us all that we could wriggle and stretch out our own imaginations to places undiscovered by anyone. I loved the world through the words of those books and well, I’ve always had this dream that one day I’d have a book of my very own weird way of seeing the world so that I could share it with others. I’ve forever imagined that I’d have my own book of poetry.

I am so pleased to announce that this little seedling of a dream of mine has finally sprouted: I’ve completed a small collection of ranch-scene poetry. The editing process is not quite finished, but the bones, I believe, are sturdy and healthy and ready to have layers placed atop them. Soon, King Ranch and I will be releasing a collection of poetry and photography from our little donkey ranch! Just typing this out brings tears to my eyes. Y’all, I have been dreaming of this and chasing this for so long and I’m so excited to share it all with you. I’ll keep y’all posted as this project tiptoes closer to final completion—whatever that looks like. I’m thrilled. Also, shoutout to my talented partner, King Ranch, who’s collaborating on this with me. It’s been a treat to have a creative project to share.

It’s terrifying too, if I’m being completely honest, to put my heart and soul onto a platter to be sliced into by anyone who chooses to read this soon-to-be book. Have you ever cooked for a large crowd? Not everyone will enjoy your style and, being an overly sensitive person, I’m nervous to put myself out there. But, more importantly, I want to share this with y’all. This ranch life has been such a magical ride for my family and me and in a world moving so quickly and often chaotically, I want to spread a little bit of this fairy dust around in hopes that it can bring calmness or connection or even just a break to those who choose to read it. Plus, donkeys are cute.

I think it was Ray Bradbury who said something about jumping off a cliff and learning how to make wings on the way down and so well, here goes nothin’. *gulp*

Other than that, it’s been business as usual, here at the ranch. Bunny, Tee and Tink have all lost their winter coats as the brutality of Texas summer is upon us. I have three donkeys left of the 10 I received in March that are still available for adoption. Little Foot is growing in mind and body every day, surprising us with his knowledge and wisdom. The zucchini and squash plants in our garden are blooming fabulously…although this year, our tomatoes and cucumbers are struggling. It’s just the way of things, I suppose.

I’m glad to be back and even more excited to share stories with y’all again. I don’t think I’ve told y’all about the white rabbit, yet. Stay tuned for that story. I feel like it’s an omen or something. I’ve got stories about storms and wind and guinea hens. Stories about spiders and struggles and travel. But for now, I just want to say hi and that our hiatus has ended…although, the digital detox was refreshing. If it’s been awhile since you’ve been sans-screen, you should take a break. See the world again through your own eyeballs…smell the air and ponder about the colors of the stars.